Presidency's Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran delivered a speech at the “Secure Türkiye: A Resolute State in the Fight Against Drugs” Panel:
We approach the fight against all forms of addiction as a matter of national security. These addictions go beyond the individual and pose a threat to society as a whole. They threaten our future.
It is imperative that we address these addictions, which notably affect children and young people, in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner.
Drug addiction, which we are currently evaluating, is a highly critical issue that necessitates a comprehensive and coordinated effort.
Drug addiction generates deep and far-reaching costs that affect society as a whole, destroying individuals and tearing families apart.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has articulated the severity of the threat by stating: “Addictions to drugs, alcohol, online betting, gambling, and tobacco have grown to such a destructive scale that they threaten the very fabric of our nation, comparable to or even more damaging than terrorism.”
Our state conducts a strong, resolute fight on the ground every day to combat this increasingly intricate web of criminal activity. Law enforcement agencies diligently work to prevent the dissemination of drugs on the streets.
The primary objective is to ensure that our children and young people are entirely shielded from this scourge. Our objective in the fight against drugs is not merely to "punish." Embracing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating individuals into society is also a requirement of our long-standing state tradition.
Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, with all state institutions and all segments of society acting in unity, this threat will be eradicated from homes, streets, and the nation as a whole.
